A helicopter is flying horizontally at 8 m/s at an altitude 180 m when a package of emergency medical supplies is ejected horizontally backward with a speed of 12 m/s relative to the helicopter. Ignoring air resistance, what is the horizontal distance in (m) between the package and the helicopter when the package hits the ground?

Question

A helicopter is flying horizontally at 8 m/s at an altitude 180 m when a package of emergency medical supplies is ejected horizontally backward with a speed of 12 m/s relative to the helicopter. Ignoring air resistance, what is the horizontal distance in (m) between the package and the helicopter when the package hits the ground? (A)  (B)  (C)  (D)

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Time taken by packet to reach the ground:

T = \frac{2 \times 180}{10} = 6 s

Horizontal distance travelled by helicopter in this time

= 8 \times 6 = 48 m

Velocity of package w.r.t. ground

= 12 - 8 = 4 m / s

in backward direction
Horizontal distance travelled by package in time,

T = 4 \times 6 = 24 m

So, horizontal distance between them

= 48 + 24 = 72 m